Funny you posted a thread about this...I have a Novation remote sl 61 key back in Ireland..the automapping feature is mint for so many vst's and also DAW's, was really impressed with it, never had any probs and really gives that hardware feel when using soft synths etc..

see-ing that I went travelling over 2yrs ago with the plan of being back after 7months I decided not to take my 61 key novation with me for obvious reasons!!!

but now Im in New Zealand and really wanted to get back into it, I have literally just purchased the M-Audio Axiom 25, its pretty similar to the Pro with less features...I havent received it yet as only purchased yesterday.

Once I get to have a proper play with it, ill give my 2cents on it, but best bet is to go into your nearest store and have a play with both if possible.

Seemingly both have similar features with automapping etc..but I went for the M-audio just cos of cost over here in NZ,

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Have used both, both boast sturdy construction and brilliant mapping software. If your main focus is the keyboard, the Axiom has nice weighted keys (I don't personally like normal keyboard keys), but the pots leave something to be desired... if your focus is on the control, the Automap software that comes with the Novation has won about 3 million awards including a royal engineering innovation award. The Remote ZERO SL is definitely worth a gander if you're mainly after the control features, it has longer-throw faders.

*Edit*
(Hah, I sound like I'm advertising them both here. Hey, if either company wants to give me anything, my address is...)

Much much more information displayed at any one time,
faders as well as pots,
touch sensitive pots and faders
really nicely weighted keys,
novation invented the automap system,
combined pitchbend/modulation x/y controller as opposed to separate roller wheels ones on the axiom
separate x-y touchpad for further expressive control.
All in, it's just much better if you can stretch to it.

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